Display rack



April30, 1946. R. E. FAST DISPLAY RACK 7 Filed Pee. 50, 1944 I INVENTO R. leap/1E A ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY RACK Ralph E. Fast, Glendale, Calif. Application December 30, 1944, Serial No. 570,537

3 Claims. (01

This invention relates to racks which are used for display purposes, being more particularly a portable folding rack particularly adapted for the purpose of holding a number of spools of thread.

A purpose and object of the present invention is to produce what may be termed a folding display rack of simple form and construction adapted for holding a number of spools or other objects, the rack being foldable into a compact unit, and when in folded position produces a structure in which the spools or other objects are retained in the rack; that is, they cannot become accidentally or otherwise removed from the rack.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rack of the character described of simple form and construction which is compact in form and has a large spool capacity, making the rack a convenient receptacle for holding the spools of thread.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing a rack embodying a form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the rack shown in Fig. l, the rack being in extended position;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the rack shown in the preceding figures in which the rack is in folded position; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational face view of the hanger and arm arrangement for the rack.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral ll designates a top which, in the form shown, is a rectangular, flat member. At each end of the top member I l and pivotally connected thereto by pins l2, or in any conventional manner, are two pairs of legs, one pair being indicated by the numeral l3 and the other pair by the numeral H.

The legs l5 of each pair are spaced apart and extend downwardly from the top member I l forming supports for shelves indicated at l6 and I1. These shelves extend lengthwise between the pairs of legs at the opposite ends of the top member H and are pivotally connected to the legs by means of pins indicated at l8 and I9 respectively. The legs are limited in their spreading movement by arms indicated at 20, which are pivotally connected at their outer ends to one of the pins IS on the shelf IS. The inner ends of these arms 20 are pivotally connected by means of a stud or pin 2| to a hanger 22 which is secured to the top member I I. In the present instance the pins at the upper ends of the inner arms extend through and support the hanger 22. The hanger 22 is vertically slotted as indicated at 24, which slot receives the pin 2|, the pin being freely slidable in such slot.

As shown in Fig. 2, the legs are in extended position, the pin 2| being in the lower end of the slot 24 limits the legs against further outward movement. When in this position the lower shelves 11 form a base for supporting the rack.

For the purpose of supporting spools of thread on the rack each shelf is provided with a series of upwardly extending posts indicated at 25, each adapted to receive a spool of thread as indicated at 26. It will be noted that when the rack is in extended position as just explained any of the spools may be freely removed from the rack without disturbing the remainder of the spools.

When the rack is not in use the legs are folded into the position shown in Fig. 3, where it will be noted that the two lower shelves I! contact each other and form a base or bottom member which is substantially the same width as the upper member ll. When in this position the spools are retained in the rack against removal or accidental displacement.

The rack just described is particularly adaptable to be carried in handbags by persons having the necessity to carry a number of spools of thread with them; for instance, women attending a sewing circle, or seamstresses or tailors who find it necessary to have a portable spool rack. The rack also makes a simple and attractive sales display as it may be placed on counters for display of spools of thread of various colors or sizes.

The rack above described may be made of any suitable material such as, for instance, wood, plastic or like material, or the rack entirely may be made of such materials with the exception of the hanger and arms, which may be made of thin metal or other suitable material.

Although one form of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it is contemplated that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention and it is intended to cover such changes and modifications as come within the scope of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A portable supporting structure comprising: a top member; a plurality of pairs of parallel legs pivotally mounted on the ends of said top member; shelves extending between each pair of legs and pivotally connected thereto; means mounted on the top member and connected to certain of said legs for limiting the spreading movement of the legs; said means comprising a hanger having a slot therein suspended from the top member, and arms extending from said hanger to certain of said legs; said arms having pivotal means at one end engageable in the slot in the hanger and having their other ends pivotally connected to said legs. 7

2. A spool rack comprising: a top member; pairs of legs pivotally mounted on the ends of said top member and extending downwardly therefrom; shelves extending between each pair of legs at the opposite ends of the top member; pivotal means for mounting said shelves on said legs; spool supporting means on said shelves; and means for limiting the spreading movement of said legs; said last named means comprising hangers each having a slot therein mounted at the ends of the top member, and arms; said arms i having pivotal means at one end extending through the slots in said hangers and pivotally connected at their outer ends with adjacent legs. 20

3. A spool rack comprising: a top member; pairs of legs pivotally mounted at the opposite ends of said top member and extending downwardly therefrom; shelves extending between each pair of legs at the opposite ends of the top member; the lowermost shelves being at the lower ends of the legs and forming a base for the rack and the shelves of difierent pairs oflegs being adapted to engage each other when the rack is in folded position; pivotal means for mounting said shelves on said legs; a plurality of posts on each shelf and means for limiting the spreading movement of said legs; said last named means comprising hangers mounted at the ends of the top member, each having a slot therein and arms; said arms having pivotal means at one end extending through the slots in said hangers and pivotally connected at their other ends with adiaoent legs.

RALPH E. FAST. 

